The next week passed in a flurry of activity as preparations for Adelaide's festival ramped up in earnest. To ease the blow to Hall's ego the night Bofur had visited the tavern, I spent as much time with him and his family as I could spare, hoping that keeping him busy through my eagerness would keep him from questioning me about the strange, handsy dwarf.
"Oh cheer up!" I urged, laughing at the rather defeated look on Hall's face as we returned to his home after ice fishing. "At least we caught something. It was fun."
"You and Mabel caught something. I spent the morning baiting your hooks and otherwise failing horribly as a fisherman."
Mabel giggled, passing off our outerwear to the butler. "Oh Hall, don't worry, we know your skills lie elsewhere. You're a superior merchant after all - and speaking of, Adelaide asked me to tell you to meet her at the new warehouse after dinner. Apparently her new beau needs to store some party supplies there."
Hall sighed. "More? We just acquired ownership of the place and she has it halfway full already. I haven't even met this mysterious new suitor of hers."
"She seems to be keeping him well away, likely doesn't want us all scaring him off." Mabel commented with a grin as we entered the sitting room.
"Can you blame her?" I asked wryly, "you are a rather terrifying lot."
"Just as well." Hall's grandmother commented from the corner where she was sitting by one of the windows overlooking the street, her hearing clearly still quite sharp. "Far better anyone coming into this family be prepared. So long as he's human." she mumbled under her breath as she returned her gazing to the frosty world beyond the windowpanes.
I glanced at Mabel who smiled sheepishly. "Adelaide once had a fancy to run away with an elf." she explained quietly. "Can you imagine?"
Judging by the way she said it, and by some of Hall's earlier unintentionally racist comments, I knew that a relationship with a dwarf would be even more scandalous in this family's eyes.
The snowy weather that had heralded Bofur's visit to the tavern continued, and while it meant more work for the people of Dale, the warmth that came with the cloud cover was welcome. Temperatures hovered at a comfortable winter temperature - the kind that was easily warded off by dressing appropriately, but not too warm as to turn the whole world to slush and muck. Tempers improved around the town, and it seemed that the festival atmosphere was permeating out into the streets even days before the main event.
The news that the underground aquifers had finally been purified only served to lift spirits higher, and as all the doom and gloom and bad feelings began to melt away, I couldn't help but to question my previous suspicions. Maybe I really had been imagining everything.
I resolved to reserve further judgement until after the festival, and if nothing happened by then, I would rethink my situation here. After all, if anything bad was going to happen, surely it would happen while all the citizens of Dale were gathered together in celebration.
Still, it would be bitter sweet to leave Hall's family and the makeshift life I was currently living. Though I missed the mountain, I was beginning to appreciate the simplicity of a rather normal human existence (even as muddled as mine was, what with my disguise and constant fear of encountering Bard). I even got to know Adelaide a bit better on the day before the big event, as we had spent the afternoon before my shift at the tavern going over the drink lists with Cuthbert and Avis. Still no sign of her elusive new man (perhaps he was an elf after all), and Hall was also strangely absent, though I expected it was partly to do with the fact that he still harboured some bad feelings about last time he came to the alehouse - he really was quite sensitive after all.
The day of the festival dawned with an excited buzz and the streets were alive and bustling well before what was typical. I was designated to work during the morning to help finish the last of the food preparations and decorating before the events were set to begin in the late afternoon. By the mid-day bell, though, the tavern was already filling up. Before I left, I did Avis and Cuthbert the courtesy of asking if they were sure they did not need me that evening.
"Don't you be worrying yourself Eleanor." Cuthbert assured me. "We've hired on some extra help for cleaning and such, younger lasses looking to make a bit of coin to spend at the festival, in exchange for an hour's hard work. Besides, you saved us a lot of effort by doing inventory with your friend yesterday."
I wasn't quite sure what to think of the fact that I could be replaced by a gaggle of untrained youth, but in reality I knew for a fact that the work itself was dull and repetitive, and that it was only the interaction with (and gathering information from) the customers that made it worth doing, and so I graciously accepted the time off.
I returned home to find all three of Hall's sisters waiting for me, and my first thought was one of dismay over the fact that they had now seen what a humble dwelling I lived in. It was doubled when I invited them inside, and for the first time since arriving, I realized how pitifully small it was with four humans crammed in together. They looked dreadfully out of place, jumbled between the bed, the small table, and the fireplace, already dressed in their finery for the festival.
"When Hall mentioned you lived on this end of town, I wasn't quite sure what to expect." Rosalin mentioned, keeping her tone polite enough but doing little to mask the small air of discomfort that she was giving off. Her younger sisters were much less fazed by it however, and Adelaide busied herself with bringing the embers of my morning fire back to life while Mabel revealed a large package she had been holding somewhat clumsily behind her back.
"The girls and I were talking," Rosalin continued, perching herself on the very edge of the bed. "...and we noticed that your wardrobe seemed somewhat..." She looked me over in my working attire, but before she could bring herself to come up with a descriptor that, though kind sounding, would conceal her snobbery, the middle sibling intervened on her behalf, shooting her a snide look which was returned in earnest.
"We bought you a dress." Adelaide said, straight to the point, straightening up after the fire started snapping into life. Mabel smiled and nodded excitedly, oblivious to her sisters' silent quarrel, as I looked over to her and the parcel. She couldn't help but interrupt Adelaide in turn, which earned her a snide look as well.
"You look about the same size as Rosalin. We really do hope it fits!" She placed it on the table and stepped back as I approached. I reached tentatively out for the paper before halting in thought. My whole life with these people was a lie, and yet still they had accepted me - a 'commoner' to them - just because I was friends with their brother. Would accepting this put me in their debt? Would it imply a relationship with them - with Hall - that I wasn't able to give? On top of all that, even with all their wealth, I had dresses back in Erebor that would likely be worth more than what they were wearing now.
"Well, get on with it." Rosalin urged, with just enough crass and impatience that I was snapped from my reverie.
With a self-conscious smile, I unveiled the new garment and held it up on front of me; it was a floor length dress of a pale pink fabric with a swooping neckline trimmed with a delicate white silk. Unlike the design of the dwarven dresses, this had more minimal bustling around the hips and was meant to showcase a taller, more slender form.
"It's lovely! Though you really shouldn't have-" I began but was immediately cut off by Rosalin.
"Oh, spare us the humility and just wear the blasted thing." she admonished, sweeping towards the door. As it clattered shut behind her, the three of us were left in the wake of her blunt final words. The remaining two sisters looked about my small, humble dwelling once more, before glancing at each other, and then to me. It seemed they were reluctant to leave; perhaps they realized the gravity of their gift and thought it might be quite dismal for me to change into it and get ready all alone in such a deprived atmosphere. Rosalin suddenly pushed back through the door with a huff, apparently having come to the same realization.
"On second thought, you'd best just come back to the house with us. We're going to need all the help we can get to have you ready by the time the festivities start."
True to her word, Rosalin, had me ready before the hour was up, though she was also accurate in that it took the help of Mabel and two maids to accomplish the task. Adelaide was of less use, but that was to be expected as she had to run off every few minutes to inform the butler and his messengers of some other near-forgotten task that had to be completed in short order.
Hall was expressly forbidden to help, at first for the obvious reasons of my being down to my shift, but later because his sisters seemed keen on keeping my transformation a surprise to all but those who were absolutely necessary. When he finally was allowed to see me, in the company of his mother and grandmother in their sitting room, he complimented me politely, but it was overshadowed by his grandmother's remark - something about bringing Gondorian culture to the barbaric northerners. I had to admit, the dress, despite being tailored at a glance and a guess, fit me in ways that Méra, no matter how hard she tried, had not yet been able to achieve.
We left the house presently, the entire family, to experience the first thrills of the festival together. Adelaide proudly led us towards the main square, but even before we got there we were encountering games, and food, and general merrymaking that ensued. Our guide, ironically, was the first to abandon us, rushing off to tend to yet another matter that only she could manage. Flora seemed inclined to speak up and stop her, but the household's matriarch intervened.
"If she feels she needs to take the weight of the world on her shoulders, let her be my dear. Otherwise the worry over it will keep her from enjoying herself no matter where she is or who she is with."
After some games and entertainment, Hall's mother and grandmother made a strong case for dining at the Great Hall. I would have been inclined to join them, had they not pointed out that due to their high standing they could expect a seat near the Head Table, where Bard and his family would be seated. Instead, I asked Hall if there were any pavilions or vendors that had traditional Gondorian fare. He assured me there was - his family had imported all the ingredients in fact - and so our party diminished once again.
We lost Mabel immediately afterwards to a group of similarly aged girls, and so Hall and I found food in relative peace before returning to the middle of the square. By this time, the winter sun was already tucking down behind the mountains, and braziers were being lit to ward off the cold and the darkness. It was at that moment that Adelaide caught up to us, looking equal parts excited, flustered and annoyed.
"Hall, the warehouse is unlocked right?" she asked in some slight panic. "The fireworks are stored inside. I think they plan to move them out soon."
"Um." Hall stated unhelpfully, squinting his eyes in thought.
Adelaide sighed, rolling her eyes at her brother. "If you can't remember, can you just run down there quick to make sure?"
Hall looked about to refuse, and a glance my way suggested he was considering using me as an excuse. In spending time with Adelaide though, I had determined that out of all the sisters, she seemed to have the worst of luck. She needed a win tonight.
"Go on." I encouraged him, waving him off. "Be useful, I'll be waiting here when you get back."
"Eleanor can keep me company while I check on a few vendors." Adelaide commented, hooking my arm through hers.
"I have to go alone?" he asked glumly.
I smiled with a shrug. "I don't want to walk all the way to the warehouse." I replied teasingly.
"Fine. I'll be back shortly." He huffed and turned on his heel, striding out of our midst as fast as he could weave through the crowd.
Adelaide led me to the nearest stand, letting go of my arm to lean over and talk with its recipient.
The burst of bright colour that suddenly manifested high in the sky above was unexpected, and the accompanied thunderclap made me violently jump. I recovered myself quickly, and then looked about to make sure no one had seen the embarrassing moment. The surrounding crowd, however, was too preoccupied cheering and clapping at the surprising start of the evening's main event.
Adelaide stepped up next to me, staring upwards even though the sky was dark once more.
"Oh. They must have gotten the supplies already." she said loudly into my ear. "I guess it had been unlocked after all."
"Poor Hall." I replied, wondering if he had made it very far towards the warehouse. Another firework erupted above our heads, this one even grander than the last. Adelaide pressed a handful of candied nuts into my hand, samples from the man she had just been talking to, and then nodded over towards an alley cutting through to where, now that I looked harder, I could see one of the locations where the rockets were being set off.
"I'll be back in a bit. They seem to be running a bit behind schedule, maybe they need my help."
I nodded in understanding, and was considering offering to go along rather than waiting here alone, but then I reasoned that Hall wouldn't know where we had gone, and so I resolved to stay. I popped another nut into my mouth, peering inquisitively down the alleyway to possibly be forewarned of the next brilliant detonation, but what I saw in the alley piqued my curiosity far more than fireworks ever could.
Adelaide's illusive suitor.
She had been hailed by a group of men who were keeping passer-bys from entering the alley, but they seemed to know her quite well and allowed her to join them. When she lovingly grabbed the hand of one of them and linked her fingers through his, I knew this must be the one she had hidden from her family for so long. My curiosity made a fool of me though, as my staring seemed to have been noticed by the man. He was staring right back in my direction, rather intently, and then he turned to look at Adelaide.
I recognized his profile with a gasp.
One of the men I had been searching for all this time.
It was without doubt. The man had a certain posture and way about him, not to mention the fact that he was bulkier and meaner looking than most Laketown men. All my pent up anticipation leading to this moment burst free, and before I could stop myself I reacted, starting towards the couple with a sudden urgency.
Yet before I had made it more than three steps, a large hand grabbed my forearm yanked me to the side.
"Hey! What the-" I yelled, trying to wrench free. My struggling abated as I recognized my captor.
"Come with us, lassie. You're done here. No time to explain." Dwalin growled, pulling me forward towards a small group of waiting dwarves despite my hesitation.
"Wait, wait. Dwalin. Stop." I tried to command over the din of the excited townsfolk. My objections were completely drowned out by another round of fireworks exploding in the air behind us. I tried to crane my neck around to look back at Adelaide and the man.
"Dwalin, I think something bad is going to happen!" I shouted, trying unsuccessfully to grind my heels to a halt, but he was pulling me with such relentlessness I worried my arm might dislocate if I wasn't careful. He paused momentarily and jerked me up alongside him.
"We know, lass." he said, glancing up at me. "We're on it. Now stop your struggling and let's go!"
His loud and pressing tone made me move my feet with less faltering. Dwalin quickly ordered something to his comrades in dwarvish, and then forced his way through the crowd, shouting at those that did not allow us to pass with haste. Once we reached the outskirts of the square, he began leading me up a quieter side street. He refused to waste his breath to explain, even though I tried to protest once more. I was worried for my friends and wondered what exactly he knew and why he was urging me out of the town at a near running pace.
I was wholly unprepared a few moments later when a sudden tremor shook the buildings around us. People staggered and stumbled, but Dwalin's dwarven sure-footedness held us both firm in place. I pulled loose enough to turn around, only to flinch at the sudden brightness and heat thrown off of the fireball that was now climbing into the sky from somewhere deeper in the city.
My breath caught in my throat.
My friends were somewhere out there, in the maze of streets, and if they weren't hurt in the initial blast they could very well be in the ensuing panic. For many here in Dale, the scourging of Laketown by dragon-fire was still an open wound, and such an event would threaten to pull even the most steadfast of men into flashbacks of that terrible night. Had we still been so close to the main square, we might have been fighting just to keep abreast of the stampede of bodies right now, but Dwalin's quick pace had taken us to a quieter part of the city.
People were coming to their senses now. Those who knew of family and friends close to the epicentre of the explosion rushed towards the fires that now could be seen burning above the rooftops. The rest fled, and amidst the confusion Dwalin turned me towards him and held my arms with his broad hands. I pulled weakly, a half-hearted attempt, a sick feeling growing in my stomach. I expected him to urge me on roughly, but his voice was almost saddened when he spoke.
"Lass, there's naught left to be done here."
I pulled again, though this time with hardly any resolve left. I could see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice.
"Not by you, in any case." He went on, and then once he felt I would struggle no more he let his arms drop and turned to beckon me on. "Hate me, if you will, but know that your actions have saved many lives tonight."
I followed, and registered through my numbed state that we were heading north - towards Erebor.
Towards home.